Apparatus for pickling and washing metal plates



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

GPMESTA. APPARATUS FOR PIGKLING AND WASHING METAL PLATES, m. N0.184,664. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

\A/ITH 55555 W I WY- 401 A (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. MESTA. APPARATUS FOR PIGKLING AND WASHING METAL PLATES, &c.

No. 484,664. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

Tu: NORRIS Sevens cm, mom-mum, msumrmm, a. c,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. MESTA. APPARATUS FOR PIGKLING AND WASHING METAL ALATBS, &c.

No. 484,664.-' Patented 0011.. 18, 1892.

as cm, Pmmmmm, msumarou n c UNITED STATES PATENT O FIcE.

GEORGE MESTA, OF PlT' SBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR PICKLING AND WASHING METAL PLATES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,664, dated October18, 1892.

Application filed January 2, 1892. Serial No. 416,907. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE MESTA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg,countyof Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinery or Apparatus forPickling and Washing Metal Plates and other z vares, of which thefollowing is a specifica- My invention relates to improvements inpickling and washing machines in which crates containing the plates orwares to be pickled and washed are operated automatically and verticallywithin vats containing the pickling and washing liquids by means of avertical plunger operating in a vertical cylinder. This plunger has avertical and revolving motion within the cylinder, and has attached toits top a spider or three or more cross-arms, to which the cratesoperating within the vats are fastened. The plunger is operatedautomatically by steam, gas, or hydraulic pressure transmitted to thecylinder through a balance piston-valve which is attached to thecylinder. This valve is so constructed that the motion of the plungercan be changed while in operation from an automatic movement to a handmovement and from a short stroke toa long stroke comprehending the fulllength of the cylinder, thereby subjecting the motion of the plunger toa full and entire control of the operator, and at the same time applyingthe same motions or movements to the crates operating within the vatscontaining the pickling and washing liquids. I thus accomplish thefollowing objects: First, a vertical motion is applied automatically orotherwise to the crates operating within the vats; second, a verticalmotion is applied automatically or otherwise to the plunger; third, arevolving motion, when deemed necessary or convenient, can be applied tothe crates and plu nger or either of them; and fourth, the amount oflabor formerly required in said operation of pickling and washing isthereby reduced, and I employ a minimum number of workmen. I attainthese objects by the mechanism or machinery illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of themachine with crates attached and suspended in vats containing theliquid, the side of one vat being open to show the position of the cratewhen in the vat; Fig. 2, a plan of the machine, showing the spider orthree cross-arms attached to the top of the plunger. More than threecross-arms can be used, if deemed necessary or convenient, with thecrates suspended from the cross-arms and two vats containing picklingand washing liquids. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the spider orcross-arms, plunger, cylinder, base supporting the cylinder, andautomatic balance piston-valve attached to the cylinder; Fig. 4., avertical section of the automatic valve detached from the cylinder andalso part of the rod which connects the plunger with the valve; Fig. 5,an outside elevation of the automatic valve detached from the cylinderand a part of the rod which connects the plunger with the valve; Fig. 6,a vertical section of the part which is attached to the top of thevalve-stem; Fig. 7, a plan of the part which is attached to the top ofthe valve-stem.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the cylindrical base, made of cast iron or any othersuitable material, and rests upon a foundation which can be made ofstone, brick, iron, or other material of sufficient strength ordurability. This base forms the bottom head and supports the cylinder B.This cylinder is securely fastened to base A by means of bolts, as shownin Fig. 1, or any other mechanical device whereby a tight joint can beobtained, so as not to permit the escape of the steam, gas, or anyelement which may be employed in operating the plunger.

0 is the piston or plunger which operates within the cylinder B, asshown in Fig. 3. The lower end of the plunger is so formed as to lit thecylinder, and on the top is fastened the spider or crossarms a a a,as inFig. 2. Three cross-arms are here represented as a matter of preference,though more than three could be used if deemed desirable.

S S S represent the crates, in which are placed the plates which are tobe pickled and Washed, and R represents the vat-s, one of whichcontains'thepickliug fluid and the other the washing fluid. After theplates are passed through the pickling liquid it may be deemedadvisable, in order to be thoroughly washed or cleaned, to pass themthrough more than one washing liquid. This object can easily beaccomplished by adding more vats, so that two or more vats are usedcontaining the washing liquid. In this case the spider will be made of acorresponding number of crossarms, each arm to operate in conjunctionwith a vat, so that when the power is applied to the plunger the platesimmersed in a vertical position in the vats containing the acid orpickling fluid receive a vertical motion and are being pickled, andsimultaneously the pickled plates receive a vertical motion and arebeing washed in the vats, which may be one or more, containing thewashing fluid, and simultaneously the washed plates are being removedfrom the crates and new or black plates are placed therein, ready forthe pickling and washing process. These crates S S are attached to thecross-arms a a by means of the rods 12 b, as appears in Fig. 1. Theserods are made of convenient lengths, and so constructed and fastened byany known mechanical device that the operator may either detach themfrom the cross-ar|ns a a or the crates S. This is a matter of preferenceand depends upon circumstances; but the rods are so constructed as to bedetachable. By this means the crate S, which contains the washedplates,is disconnected from the machine and is emptied and refilled withnew plates. The plates in the remaining crates are being pickled andwashed, and these three operations are conducted simultaneously,necessitating no stoppage of the machine. When it is desired to move thecrates from one vat to the other,or from the washing-vat to the placewhere they are disconnected, they are raised above the top of the vats,by a process which is to be hereinafter described and explained, andswung into any desired position by means of the plunger 0, whichsupports the crossarms, and is caused to revolve in the cylinder.

The crates, as appear in Fig. 2, are made on a number of cross-bars orany other convenient manner; .but so designed as to hold the plates in avertical position when immersed in the liquids.

Fig. 1 shows the position of the crates within the vats. They can bemade of'wood or any other suitable material. They are connected with thecross-arms by means of a rod.

My object is to lower the plates vertically in the liquids and entirelyimmerse them, then by suddenly lifting the crate to force the liquidsthrough and between the plates, and by a constant repetition of thisprocess this constant dip of the plates verticallyin and out of and upand down in the liquids to obtain a more perfect Wash than has beenobtained by any other process or machine. This is accomplished by theconnection of the crates with the spider or cross-arms and theconnection of the spider with the plunger. Let the power be appliedautomatically to the plunger. Immediately and necessarily the verticalup-and-down motion is transferred to the crates and can be regulated atany degree or speed and any degree of length; but the length or thedistanceof the motion is dependent upon the stroke of the plunger. Ifthe stroke of the plunger 0 be a short one, the motion to the crateswill be short and quick. By preference the plunger is given aten-inchstroke, because it is not deemed necessary to transfer a greater motionthan that to the crates in order to accomplish a thorough washing, andthe vats containing the liquids are made of proportionate sizes anddimensions. All other machines accomplish this pickling process byeither moving the plates horizontally or angularly in the liquids, or byleaving the plates stationary agitate the liquids, or by applying to thecradles a rectilinear motion; and in the latter case crates are used incombination with cradles, and the cradles are operated within the vatsby some outside power or appliance, and in no case is the directvertical motion applied or can be to the crates holding the plates bythe mechanism whlch is described and employed.

I will now describe and explain how the plunger 0 is operated in thecylinder B by means of the balance piston-valve, as shown in Figs. 3 and4. The plunger has two movements, first, an automatic movement, second,a hand movement; also, a short stroke and a long stroke. In order toreciprocate the crates vertically within the vats and accomplish athorough pickling and washing of the plates the automatic movement andshort stroke of the plunger is used. When it is desired to transfer thecrates from one vat to the other or to any convenient place for arenewal of the supply of plates, the hand movement and long stroke areemployed. In that case the crates are raised bodily out of and above thevats. The plunger can then be revolved in the cylinder and the cratesplaced into any convenient position, or the plunger can remainstationary, thus enabling a change of crates. In either case it is underthe full and absolute control of the operator.

The balance piston-valve, as represented in Figs. 4 and 5, consists of ahollow cylinder D, closed at the upperend by a movablehead D, andthrough which passes the valve-rod F. M represents the inlet-pipe to thecylinder; M, the exhaust or outlet pipe. Through these pipes gas orother element or fluid employed in operation passes. In describing theoperation of this valve I shall confine myself to the element steam, forconvenience. Within the cylinder D operates a hollow cylinder E, of theusual construction, containing five parts, as appears in Fig. 4. a: andy are outer rings of the cylinder E, preferably of brass, and closelyfit into the large cylinder D, so as not to permit the escape of thesteam from one partof the cylinder to the other. F is the valve-rod, andpasses through the head D and connects the cylinder E with the part g,as appears in Fig. 5. K is a rod IIO having a slot K, as appears in Fig.4, supported in the brackets and k, and fastened to the plunger 0 bymeans of the arm L, and there held in position by two rings Z and Z, asappears in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 represents part G, which connects thevalve-rod F with the rod K, as appears in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 represents avertical section of part G, and shows its construction. gis a rod withashoulder, and is made to [it and move in part G. It is pressed out bymeans of aspring placed behind the shoulder, is attached to the eye 9,and the end of the rod 9 is made to fit and work in slot K, as appearsin Fig. 5. I is a bracket fastened to the valve D and supports the leverI by means of the pin 2'. J is a rod connected with the lever I by meansof the pin j and passes through and is attached to the eye X of part G,as in Fig. 4. 1-1 is a bracket fastened to the valve D and supports thelever H by means of pin h. Lever H is attached to eye gof part G, as inFig. 5. The valve is attached to the cylinder B, and connected by meansof the conduit or port at and n, as appears in Fig. 3, and through whichsteam is transmitted from cylinder D to cylinder B. i

In order to operate the machine and put the plunger 0 into motion, steamis admitted through the inlet-pipe M. The cylinder E is lowered to thebottom of the cylinder D by means of the lever I, which is fastened tothe valve-rod F, as described above. The ring y thus passes below theport N, and the steam which has filled the cylinderD passes through theport N and N into the cylinder B and immediately operates on the plungerby giving it an upward motion and forcing it to the top of cylinder B.The plunger carries with it the rod K, containing the slot K, and inwhich tits and works the rod g, as described above. The plunger movesupward until the rod 9 has reached the bottom of the slot K, as appearsin Fig. 4. The upward motion of the plunger still continues; but bymeans of the valve-rod F, fastened to the part G,which works and fits inslot K by means of the bar g, the valve E is moved upward from thebottom of the cylinder D until the ring yis raised above the port N andN. The steam which has filled the lower chamber of cylinder B passes inthe lower chamber of cylinder D and then into the atmosphere by means ofthe exhaustpipe M. The upward motion of the plunger ceases andimmediately a downward motion results by force of gravity. The action ofthe pin g in the slot K is now repeated. The rod K is now moved downwardby the action of the plunger until the pin g strikes the top of slot K.This lowers the cylinder E, and the downward motion continues until thering y is lodged below the port N, when the steam in the upper chamberof the cylinder D, admitted through the inlet-pipe M, passes into thecylinder B, thus stopping the downward motion of the plunger and againforcing it upward and repeating the process above de scribed. By thisconnection of the valve with the cylinder B and plunger 0, whereby theport N is automatically opened and closed, an automatic and continuousmotion is given to the plunger and by means of the cross-armstransferred to the crates operating within the vats. This also gives tothe plunger its short stroke; but it readily appears that this strokecan be regulated to any length by changing the dimensions of the slot K.By this automatic opening and closing of the port N the plunger is givena continual action and will continue its vertical motion in the cylinderuntil the automatic connection is broken. When the plates are thoroughlypickled and washed and it is desirable to change the crates from one vatto the other, I break the automatic connection between the valve and theplunger 0 and accomplish it by means of the lever H, as described above.When the plunger 0 is on its upward course, the handles of the lever Hare pressed downward. This forces the rod 9 out of the slot K anddisconnects the rod K from the valve-rodF. The plunger continues itsascent and carries with it the rod K, but transfers no motion to thecylinder E until C,the shoulder of plunger 0, moves against the top ofcylinder B. In this position it is held. The lower chamber of cylinder Bis filled with steam and forms a cushion on which the plunger rests andon which it revolves. The crates can then be moved in any convenientposition, emptied, and refilled or changed from one vat to the other, asnecessity demands. This gives the plunger its long stroke and calls ntoplay the hand movement. When it 1s des1red to return again to theautomatic motion, the cylinder E is operated by the lever I unt1l thering y is raised above the port N. The steam escapes from the cylinder Bthrough the exhaust M, and the plunger descends until the rod 9 meetsthe slot K and the connection is formed with the valve-rod F, and theplunger falls into its automatic motion.

In order to reduce friction to the minimum between the shoulder C- andthe top of the cylinder B, the stuffing-ring P is attached, and whichholds in position packing 19' around the plunger. It also prevents theescape of the steam that passes into the upper chamber of the cylinder Bthrough the rings Z in the plunger. By this means the steam iscompressed in the upper chamber and the shoulder O is prevented fromstriking the IIO shoulder B, which would otherwise happen when theplunger was given its long stroke or revolved in the cylinder. Shouldthere be too much steam held in the upper chamber, so as not to allowthe plunger to make a sufficient stroke, a part of the steam can bereleased by means of a valve connected to the upper part of the cylinderat the opening 0. The rod J and the end of the lever H are soconstructed as to permit the part G to slide over them at the point ofconnection 9 and X when moved up and down by the action of the plungerC; otherwise the levers H and I would be in constantmotiou when theplunger was operated automatically.

I am aware that prior to my invention pickling-machines have been in useby which the plates were pickled and washed by moving the crates whichcontained the plates in the liquids in an angular or horizontal motion,which is applied to the crates by means of steam operating in cylindersor from eccentrics which were driven from belts and pulleys; also, thatbalance piston-valves somewhat similar to the one I here use are in useon steam-engines; but

WhatI do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. I11 a pickling apparatus, a vertical cylinder, a plunger therein,spiders or arms secured to the upper protruding end of the plunger,crates suspended from the arms, vats for the crates, and a mechanismoperated by the plunger for regulating the flow to the cylinder toimpart a vertical movement to the plunger, the parts combinedsubstantially as described.

2. Apickling apparatus comprising a vertical cylinder, a plunger thereincarrying arms, crates suspended therefrom, a rod carried by the plunger,a Valve for regulating the flow to the cylinder, and a connectionbetween the said valve and the plunger-rod, substantially as specified.

3. A pickling apparatus comprising a vertical cylinder carryingaplunger, supportingarms carried by the upper end of the plunger, cratessuspended therefrom, a rod carried by the plunger, a valve forregulating the flow to the cylinder, a device carried by the valve-rodengaging the said plunger-rod, and a lever for operating the said deviceto disengage it from the plungerrod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

GEO. MESTA.

Witnesses:

J. 0. HoRNINe', E. E. CRAUMER.

